Letter from the editor
2026! The Year for DPC!
Maryal Concepcion, MD FAAFP
Clarity, confidence, and momentum for 2026. Inside: the seismic changes brought by HR 1 and the IRS’s new HSA rules, practical HR and staffing strategies, a downloadable patient handout, sustainable side-gig opportunities, and a look at what’s coming for the DPC Alliance under new leadership.
“This is your toolkit to start the year strong, stay aligned with your purpose, and build the kind of practice, and life, you’ve been working toward.”
Community
You’re Not Alone! 2026 New Year Greetings
Maryal Concepcion, MD FAAFP
Every January, we tell ourselves the new year will bring us closer to achieving our potential, yet so many of us quietly carry the same doubts and pressures. As physicians, entrepreneurs, advocates, strategists, and stewards of their communities, DPC doctors carry responsibilities that extend far beyond the exam room. You’re not alone in this.
Policy
DPC + HSAs: Capitol Hill Update
HR 1 passed. The IRS’s new HSA rules finally recognize DPC as HSA-eligible beginning tax year 2026. What changed, what still needs regulatory clarification, and what physicians must do to position their practices for the patient volume this unlock will drive.
Patient resources
Help Patients Avoid Financial Disaster
Zion HealthShare
Health shares as a viable option for both DPC physicians and their patients. How pairing a health share with DPC membership creates a complete, cost-effective healthcare coverage model. When it works, when it doesn’t, and how to have the conversation.
Patient handout
How to Choose Your Healthcare
A downloadable, white-label patient guide covering insurance options, health shares, HSAs, and how DPC fits into the picture. Designed for front desk, portal, or email delivery. Clear language for patients who don’t speak healthcare finance.
Leadership
A Message from Dr. Kelsey Smith
2026 DPCA President
2026 is bringing new hope and collaboration for the DPC Alliance. Dr. Smith shares her vision for the DPCA under her leadership. What’s coming for physician advocacy, community building, and the national DPC movement in the year ahead.
HR & Operations
How to Hire an Employee
Cooperative of American Physicians
A step-by-step blueprint for hiring your first DPC team member. Job description frameworks, onboarding essentials, compliance basics for small medical businesses, and the common mistakes DPC founders make when making their first hire, plus how to avoid them.
Technology
AI in DPC: Tips for Embracing and Harnessing It in Your Practice
AI scribes, inbox triage, scheduling automation, patient education content, and more. The tools are here, and DPC physicians are uniquely positioned to benefit. Practical guidance on which AI tools are genuinely saving time in DPC practices right now, what to be cautious about, and how to introduce AI without eroding the human relationship at the center of DPC.
